“He turned out to be a prostitute for 17 million!” How Mike Tyson suffered his first defeat
On February 11, 1990, James "Buster" Douglas knocked out the undefeated Mike Tyson for the first time in history, marking the beginning of the end for the career of the greatest boxer of all time.On February 11, 1990, James "Buster" Douglas knocked out the undefeated Mike Tyson for the first time in history, marking the beginning of the end of the career of the greatest boxer of all time.
CARIER START
James grew up in a boxing family. His father Bill Douglas was the winner of the prestigious tournament for young boxers "Golden Gloves", but left no traces in the professional ring, ending his career with a record: 41 (31) - 15 (7) - 1. The list of fights of younger brother Douglas - Billy even more modest: 12 (8) - 5 (1). There was no indication that James' career would be any different.
In his fifth fight, he was defeated by knockout, in the 13th - he barely achieved a draw. Buster lost twice more before getting their first chance to face Tyson. It was in 1987. International Boxing Federation (IBF) stripped of champion belt Michael Spinks. A battle of contenders was appointed. They were Douglas and undefeated Tony Tucker.
Why Buster was chosen is a mystery. He was given a "last" chance. For most of the fight, James looked stronger than Tucker, but after missing a series of punches, he lost by technical knockout in the tenth round. Douglas was forgotten.
But his career took off in an unexpected way after that defeat. First, he won a series of "warm-up" fights, and then defeated the former world champion Trevor Berbick and future world champion Oliver McCall.
"Buster" got "the very last" chance.
BEFORE THE FIGHT WITH TYSON
This fight shouldn't have happened. Tyson met with stronger opponents and calmly sent them to the floor. It was planned to hold a duel in the fall with Donovan "Razor" Ruddock.
But "Iron" Mike "forgot" about training and enjoyed the female company. His promoter DonKing in order to avoid a scandal, he “found” a doctor who “confirmed” that Tyson was ill with pleurisy. The duel was cancelled.
Following King agreed to fight in June with Evander Holyfield, which was supposed to bring Tyson 25 million. All that remained was to find an “easier” opponent in order to have another fight in February. That opponent was Douglas.
Meanwhile, Tyson was already celebrating with might and main, the promised fee for the fight with Holyfield, and on January 8 he was hardly stuffed into the plane to fly to Tokyo. Tyson was only interested in alcohol and affordable girls. He was lucky, in Japan he was waiting for no less debauchery.
Tyson has repeatedly said that he did not prepare for the fight with Douglas, did not even look at his fights. But he could not help but see Douglas, because they often performed as opening acts for each other. So "Iron" Mike could at least see the fights of Douglas with Berbick, Tucker, Mike Williams and DiCullier.
Moreover, Berbick and Tucker, as well as Jesse Ferguson who defeated Douglas, Tyson literally "demolished" from the ring. “Why prepare for Douglas if the boxers who beat him lost to us?” - Tyson met with a question any hint of training, which he attended extremely reluctantly.
In an exemplary sparring battle with Greg Page 10 days before the match, Tyson missed a hook and fell. The journalists were shocked: “Someone can knock down Mike?” And to change the impression, King organized another exhibition match, but Tyson was so bad that his coaches Aaron Snowell and Jay Bright stopped the fight after the first round.
At this time, James Douglas had a tragedy. Three weeks before the fight, his mother died, and just a few days before the fight, his wife was hospitalized with a serious kidney disease. Doctors did not even think to hide from the boxer that everything could end in death.
Douglas took two more hits than Mike could ever land. James was not afraid of him. Even people from the Tyson camp said that "this guy runs with foam at the mouth." For the only time in his life, Douglas prepared for his duel with such diligence.
During the day of the finish, it turned out that Tyson gained 100 kilograms. It was his biggest weight at the start of his career. But Mike, who was not bright at all, still managed to add that "Buster can 'join' his mother on the day of the fight."
DUEL
Already in the first round, it became clear that Tyson had problems. Perhaps he had never thrown so few punches before, and Douglas calmly used the jab, not allowing Mike to get close to him.
At the start of the second round, "Buster" landed several close-range punches. “Where is your pendulum, Mike,” Tyson’s “creators” would have cried Cus D "Amato and Kevin Rooney, but they were not around, as their pupil did not already have the peek-a-boo protection.
After the third round, an enraged Snowell shouted:
You can't get close to him. You have to break through to him, but you don't move.
- I would try it myself, your mother, to break through and get closer! He has an advantage over me in the length of his arms in 30 cm! Tyson replied.
The fourth round was bad for Mike. The fifth is even worse. Tyson's eye began to swell, but when he returned to his corner, it turned out that his coaches did not have an "eye iron" or even an ice pack.
Teddy Atlas, who coached Tyson as an amateur, said: "These two cannot work as coaches, just like a fish cannot live without water."
The situation for Tyson was getting worse, and Douglas went into a rage. He landed a series of blows to the head, but at the end of the eighth round he got carried away. For the only time in the entire fight, Tyson saw a gap in his defense. Mike landed the signature uppercut and James fell.
Once on the floor of the ring, Douglas first cracked his fist heartily on him, then rose to one knee, and at the expense of "nine" showed that he was ready to continue the fight. But 13 seconds have passed. The round was over. Tyson did not have a chance to finish off the opponent.
After the break, Douglas went on such a violent attack that Tyson's head flew off like a jack-in-the-box. Even Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield didn't do Mike like a rout. During the break, the coaches shouted at Tyson, but he heard only silence.
In the next round it was all over. Douglas again carried out a series of powerful blows, knocking out Mike with his signature uppercut. Tyson's mouthguard flew out of his mouth. This moment was in all the morning papers. Mike barely got up and, chewing his mouthguard, returned to the corner.
– What happened?
“The referee has counted ten seconds for you. You lost, champion.
At the same time, the judge's notes struck. American LarryRosadilla put up 88:82 in favor of Douglas, which corresponded to what was happening. But two Japanese judges Ken Morita and Masakuzu Uchida put 86-86 and 86-87 in favor of Tyson. It was crazy. Obviously, there were no unclean forces. The judges counted on bonuses from one gentleman, if Tyson "survived" until the end of the 12th round, and their points would bring him victory.
AFTER BATTLE
And Don King would not have been a devil if he had not tried to take away all honestly won titles from Douglas ten minutes after the end of the fight. He held a press conference and organized a meeting with the heads of boxing organizations. "The first knockout cancels the second," Satan proclaimed in his voice.
And he didn’t care at all that the referee, before fixing the victory of “Buster”, gave the same 13 seconds to Tyson to get up. The difference is that James got up and Mike didn't.
King's eloquence backfired. After returning to the US, the bosses of the WBC, WBA and IBF not only did not grant his request. They didn't even oblige Douglas to do a mandatory rematch.
Tyson was "killed". Nobody wanted to deal with King, but he himself suffered in the end.
And Douglas was not going to give any revenge. He agreed to fight Holyfield, entered the ring overweight and lost miserably. Evander, as if walking in the park on a warm evening, found three championship belts on the way home at once, chose them without having time to sweat, while no one was watching.
“Buster” turned out to be a whore for $ 17 million, ”Tyson gave a new characteristic to the opponent.
Douglas in the fight with Holyfield did not even show 10% of what was in the fight with Mike. In the fight with Holyfield, he was already the “Tyson” whom he beat himself. "Buster" came out to the ring with no sense of dignity or pride to defend the belts. He got his fee and lost his honour.
Having become the absolute world champion out of the blue, Holyfield also did not think of meeting Tyson. Instead, he fought three fights with boxers whose combined age was 119! After that, he "made" the absolute champion Riddick Bow. At this time, Tyson was in prison, and chaos reigned in the heavyweight division. Titles held alternately Lennox Lewis, Holyfield, Bow, McCall, Michael Moorer, George Foreman, Frank Bruno,Frances Botha and Bruce Seldon. The photo of the last three was placed on the cover of The Ring magazine, and next to it was the inscription: "Who are these people?"
The victory of James "Buster" Douglas marked not new era, but the most powerful crisis in heavyweight, which again had to be dealt with by Mike Tyson, who was released from prison in 1995. He almost managed to bring together all the belts for the second time in his career, but he stopped in one step, and Lewis became the new absolute champion.
Douglas, in turn, was no longer allowed to title fights. He was again forgotten by everyone. This time forever.
A few years later, Tyson crossed paths with him at an autograph session. Nobody wanted to take an autograph from Douglas. He went down in history by beating Tyson, but then the story of his own life was reduced to nothing.
COUNT OF ROUNDS. VERSION website
| BOXERS | Check |
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| Tyson |
Judges score: 88-82, 86-87, 86-86
American professional boxer Mike Tyson(born in 1966) - probably the most grandiose figure in the world modern sports. He has a lot of beautiful fights on his account, but a lot of shocking deeds. His services to world sports are great: he is the owner of many records in boxing. For example, he became the youngest world champion among heavyweights in professional boxing ( at the age of 20!), he had the fastest career from debut to conquest championship title(20.5 months) and title absolute world champion in heavyweight (29 months), the King of Knockouts has many more such unique achievements.
Nickname " Iron Mike”was received by him not by chance: his manner of fighting was aggressive and assertive, many rivals were psychologically losing to him even before the start of the fight. Not very "sporty" behavior could be expected from him: the famous case of Holyfield's bitten off ear scared many. In life, Mike Tyson was also not " good boy”: three convictions (for rape, drug use and driving under their influence), not counting the stay in a juvenile colony.
One of the interesting fights Tyson can be called a duel in 1987 with Tyrell Biggs- Olympic champion in 1984. At that time, both boxers had not yet suffered a single defeat in the professional ring. The fight was rather fleeting - already in the 7th round, Iron Mike dealt a decisive blow, sending the opponent to a knockout.
famous episode with a bitten ear took place in 1997 - it was Mike's second fight with Holyfield, as the boxer later explained his behavior - he wanted to avenge the numerous headbutts that Holyfield inflicted on him during both of these fights, in which, nevertheless, Evander Holyfield was awarded the victory.
Despite all the ambiguity of the figure Mike Tyson, his contribution to the history of boxing and his undoubted talent cannot be denied and appreciated.
Mike Tyson defeats. In this article, let's remember who Mike Tyson lost in the amateur ring, how many defeats in his track record and how the fate of his winners turned out.
Mike is a professional boxing legend. His bright victories and sensational defeats are known all over the world. Tyson had a short but eventful career in " amateurs". In this article, let's remember who Mike Tyson lost in the amateur ring, how many defeats in his track record and how the fate of his winners turned out.
Mike's record in amateur boxing: 48 (38 KOs) -6 (1 KOs). He had his first fight in May 1981, and the last in September 1984, after which he switched to professional boxing.
- Lost to: Ernie Bennett (USA) Date: November 1981. Competition: Round 1 of the US Junior Open in Rhode Island. Young Mike's first defeat. In June 1981, he won the junior Olympic Games and was entered into the national heavyweight tournament. In the first round, he lost a decision to the long-armed, technical fighter from South Carolina - Ernie Bennett. A year later, Ernie turned pro. He performed in the middleweight division, but did not reach great heights. Finished a short career with a record: 8(5)-3(1)-0. Bennett became famous as the fighter who inflicted the first defeat on the legendary, then very young, Mike Tyson.
- Lost to: Al Evans (USA) Date: December 1982. Competition: 1 round of the national championship of the USA among adults in Binghamton ( state of new york). The only early defeat of Tyson in the amateur ring. In the second round, the huge, experienced Evans knocked 16-year-old Mike down. After the second knockdown, the referee stopped the fight. Al had good prospects in the professionals, but there were no competent managers next to him. In the second fight in " pro"He lost to Oliver McCall. Evans continued to enter the ring, but brutal defeats at the hands of Ray Mercer and Axel Schulz forced him to end his career. Record: 4 (4) -6 (5) -0.
- Lost to: Craig Payne (USA) Date: March 1983. Competition: National Tournament Final" golden gloves"in Albuquerque ( state of new mexico). Tyson confidently passed 4 stages to the final. In the decisive fight, he lost to the experienced Craig Payne, a boxer from Ohio. Mike became the silver medalist of the prestigious tournament. Craig defeated Teofilo Stevenson himself in the amateur ring. For this reason, the defeat of young Mike did not become a sensation. In 1985, Payne turned pro, but his career did not work out. Record: 11(8)-20(7)-2. He had problems with being overweight. After completing his career, he suffered from memory loss. In 2017, Craig died from a severe stage of diabetes.
- Lost to: Kimmuel Odum (USA) Date: December 1983. Competition: 1st round of the national championship of the United States for adults in Colorado Springs ( state of colorado). Like a year earlier, Mike faced the main favorite in the first round of the tournament. Tyson was disqualified in the second round for a low blow. " Chicago jester"Odum won the tournament. Kimmuel won the Chicago tournament twice" golden gloves"and was one of the top five US heavyweights. In 1986, he turned professional, but in the first fight he lost to the aforementioned Oliver McCall. The eminent amateurs did not have a career on" pro ring". In 1999, Kimmuel completed his performances with a record: 17 (13) -30 (20) -1.
- Lost to: Henry Tillman (USA) Date: June 1984. Competition: Round 4 of the U.S. Olympic Qualifiers at Fort Waite ( Texas). Tyson was not easy given the preliminary fights. I had an injury to my left hand. For the young fighter, it was the 4th fight in a row in 3 days of competition. Experienced Henry Tillman scored a landslide victory by unanimous decision: 5-0. Henry won the tournament and won the right to represent the country at the Los Angeles Olympics.
- Lost to: Henry Tillman (USA) Date: July 1984. Competition: Round 2 of the US National Olympic Tournament in Las Vegas ( state of nevada). A month after the first fight, Mike and Henry met in the second round of the national Olympic tournament. Tillman has already won the right to represent the country at the games in Los Angeles. The defeat would not deprive him of the status of the first number of the US team. He defeated young Mike again. The second fight was more competitive. 4 out of 5 judges awarded the victory to Tillman. He won the tournament and for a long 6 years remained the last fighter who could defeat the formidable Tyson. In February 1990, this status was taken away from Henry. Tillman won a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics and turned pro. He boxed in the first heavy weight. He lost in the fight for the championship title to Evander Holyfield, and in June 1990, Tyson knocked out Henry in the first round, thereby avenging the Olympic champion for two defeats in the amateur ring. Tillman's professional boxing record: 26(16)-6(4).
During his professional career, Mike Tyson had 58 fights, won 50 wins, 44 knockouts, including technical knockouts, suffered 6 defeats, 2 fights remained unannounced.
Mike Tyson knockout career
First professional fight sports career Mike Tyson took place on March 5, 1985. Mike's opponent was Hector Mercedes, whom he defeated by technical knockout. In 1985, he had 15 fights, all won by knockout.
Before his first championship fight, which took place in November 1986, Tyson had 12 fights. In January 1986, he won a 5 round TKO over Mike Jameson, who became the first fighter to last 5 rounds against Tyson. The second Jesse Ferguson to last, Mike broke his nose, Jesse was disqualified in the 6th round.
In May 1986 he met James Tillis, a former title contender. This fight was Tyson's first professional fight to last 10 rounds. Accordingly, Tillis became the first boxer who lasted 10 rounds in a fight with Mike. The victory was awarded to Tyson by unanimous decision of the judges.
Just 17 days after the fight with Tillis, he defeated Mitch Green, who, like Tyson, grew up in Brownsville and, according to legend, was part of the opposing gang. For this, Tyson first knocked out a cap and then a gold tooth, the victory was awarded by unanimous decision of the judges.
In July of the same year, the battle between two of the most outstanding and promising at that time, Mike Tyson and Marvis Frazier, the son of the famous heavyweight champion Joe Frazier, took place. This fight was the shortest fight in Tyson's entire professional career, he knocked out his opponent in just 30 seconds.
In November, he went to his first championship fight, his opponent was current champion world according to WBC Trevor Berbick. The fight lasted only 2 rounds, Tyson won by knockout and became the world champion.
In the spring of 1987, Mike becomes the WBA world champion, defeating James Smith in a unified fight.
In May 1987, Tyson successfully defended the title of champion, defeating challenger Pinklon Thomas by knockout, who had never before
was not even in the knockdown.
In August, he becomes the undisputed WBC and WBA world champion by defeating Tony Tucker in a fight called The Ultimate.
In October, "Iron Mike" knocked out Olympic champion Tyrell Biggs in the 7th round, proving to everyone that he, too, is capable of representing the United States at the Olympic Games.
In January 1988, he knocked out the legendary Larry Holmes, who had never been knocked out before the fight with Tyson.
In March of the same year, defending his title, he knocked out the strongest in the 2nd round. former champion Tony Tubbs.
In June 1988, he knocked out Michael Spinks and became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
In February 1989, Tyson defeated the strongest British heavyweight Frank Bruno by technical knockout.
Four boxers retired after being defeated by Mike Tyson: Trent Singleton, Benjamin Sterling, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno.
In the early summer of 1989, he once again successfully defended his title by defeating US champion Carl Williams.
In 1990, Tyson lost the title due to alcohol problems and he had to fight again for the contender's place. Mike's opponent was Olympic champion Henry Tillman. He defeated Tillman by clear knockout at the end of the 1st round. In December of the same year, he knocked out prospect Alex Stewart in the 1st round.
Mike knockouts after jail time
After Mike Tyson returned to the ring in 1995, he knocked out the undefeated Buster Mathis Jr.
In September 1996, Tyson met with WBA world champion Bruce Seldon. Mike knocked him out in the first round, winning the WBA title and earning $25 million.
A close friend of Tyson's famous rapper Tupac Shakur was shot dead on September 7, 1996 after he and his comrades returned from watching a fight between Mike Tyson and Bruce Seldon.
In January 1999, Mike meets with the South African boxer Francois Botha and in a very nervous fight knocks him out at the end of the 5th round.
In February 2003, Tyson knocked out Clifford Etienne in the 1st round, this knockout was the last in Iron Mike's professional career.
To this it is worth adding that during his amateur boxing career, Tyson spent 60 fights, winning 54 and losing 6, how many victories were won by knockout is unknown.
Mike Tyson was undefeated for 37 fights before meeting Buster Douglas
26 years ago, Mike Tyson lost for the first time in a professional ring when Buster Douglas became his offender. HB describes a historic event in the history of boxing
On February 11, 1990, the usual victory of the invincible American was to take place in Tokyo. Prior to this fight, Tyson won 37 fights and never lost. Meanwhile, in the liability of his counterpart Buster Douglas, there were four defeats at once.
Bookmakers did not doubt the success of the favorite, who did not even train before the fight, which he admitted after the defeat. Tyson confidently prepared for the meeting with Buster, which was confirmed by his sparring with Greg Page, who managed to knock down Mike, although he had never been on the floor before, both during fights and training.
The first half of the fight made Tyson's fans seriously worried. The favorite did not differ in speed of action and rarely evaded blows. The opponent acted quickly and confidently. Mike clearly underestimated his opponent, and this was also proved by the fact that there was no eye iron in the boxing corner of the champion. In his absence, the coaches used a rubber glove with cold water.
'I didn't train at all' - Mike Tyson on preparing for Douglas fightIn the 8th round, Tyson knocked down his opponent, after which he stayed on the floor for more than 10 seconds. But the judge did not start the count immediately, and then even interrupted it when he turned back. Subsequently, this delay gave rise to the Iron Mike team to accuse the referee of disrupting the knockout.
In the 10th round, Buster returned the opponent "reciprocity" when he delivered a successful uppercut to the jaw. After that, the attacking boxer succeeded in a combination of two left and one right crosses, as a result of which Tyson was already on the floor. And although Mike managed to get up, the judge saw that the champion was not on his feet. At the moment the fight was stopped, the judges recorded a draw, but the referee stopped the fight.
By many observers, this defeat of the legendary American is considered the greatest sensation in the history of boxing. The reasons for the first of Tyson's six failures are still being debated. Most often they point to the lifestyle of the champion on the eve of the fight. "Iron Mike" did not demonstrate iron discipline and was fond of alcohol.